World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont suggested Thursday the World Cup could be held in non-traditional rugby nations following France in 2023, as he hailed the game’s growing popularity in Asia due to Japan’s hosting of the tournament next year.
With exactly 12 months to go until the battle for the Webb Ellis trophy kicks off in Tokyo, Beaumont also predicted one of the most competitive and unpredictable tournaments yet, tipping free-flowing Fiji as a dark horse team to watch.
“World Rugby will have to have a philosophical debate going forward” over where future World Cups should be held, Beaumont told reporters at an event to mark the year-to-go celebrations.
